Robin Lovell-Badge

Professor Robin Lovell-Badge is Head of the Division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research in London and sits on the Advisory Committee of the Science Media Centre.

Robin Lovell-Badge during his participation in the 2012 Battle of Ideas conference session - 'Banning the Brave New World? The ethics of science'

Biography

Education

Robin Lovell-Badge obtained his PhD in Embryology at University College London in 1978, before undertaking postdoctoral research in Cambridge and Paris.

Career

In 1982 Lovell-Badge established his independent laboratory at the Mammalian Development Unit of the Medical Research Council at University College London. In 1988 he moved to the National Institute for Medical Research, becoming Head of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics in 1993.

Lovell-Badge is Honorary Professor at University College London's Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Hong Kong.

Lovell-Badge serves on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee. He is also on the Council of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Views on science communication

In 2010, Lovell-Badge was quoted by the BBC in an article focusing on concerns by stem cell experts that a small group of scientists were apparently 'vetoing high quality science from publication in journals':

It's turning things into a clique where only papers that satisfy this select group of a few reviewers who think of themselves as very important people in the field is published.

You can get a lot of hype over a paper published on stem cell research that's actually a minimal advance in knowledge whereas the poor person that is doing beautiful research that is not catching the eye of the editor, you don't get to hear about that, even though it could be the world changing piece of research.

Writing in BioNews in 2012 as part of a critique of research carried out at Harvard University by stem cell scientist Professor Jonathan Tilly - whose 'dramatic' findings, according to Lovell-Badge, lacked 'robust evidence and carefully drawn conclusions', he noted:

'Scientists have to be optimistic. How else to survive months or years of frustratingly slow progress in a difficult and often poorly rewarded profession?

But despite the frustrations, scientists retain a responsibility to present their work in a balanced way and not to give unrealistic or false hopes. Unfortunately, several stem cell researchers seem to disregard this all too frequently and the field is particularly prone to hype. It's a risky business – overhyping treatments that turn out not to work out in the clinic leaves patients disappointed and erodes trust in all stem cell research.

Lovell-Badge concluded:

It is possible to be enthusiastic about a piece of science, but to do so in a qualified manner that respects the hopes and fears of patients. Hype should be avoided for everyone's sake.’

Affiliations

Science Media Centre

Lovell-Badge has been on the Board (now 'Advisory Committee') of the Science Media Centre since 2007.

Institute of Animal Technology

He is President of the Institute of Animal Technology.

EuroStemCell

Lovell-Badge is a contributor to 'Europe's stem cell hub', EuroStemCell. The organisation ‘unites more than 90 European stem cell and regenerative medicine research labs in a coordinated effort to engage with the public about our science’.

Institute of Ideas

In October 2012, Lovell-Badge participated in a discussion on science ethics and the role of the public in biomedicine development at the Battle of Ideas festival coordinated by the Institute of Ideas, in a session titled 'Banning the Brave New World? The ethics of science'.<youtube size="medium" align="right" caption='Banning the Brave New World?', participating in discussion on the role of the public in biomedicine development>uH8UEa6RLuA</youtube>

Contact

Email: rlovell [AT] nimr.mrc.ac.uk